- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 May 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 19 May 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether Food Standards Scotland currently receives enough funding to carry out all of its responsibilities.
Answer
The Scottish Government and the whole of the public sector faces a very challenging situation as we continue to manage our finances through the current financial year, in 2025-26 and beyond.
Operating within a fixed budget, we have had to manage Scottish public finances in the face of higher inflation and cost of living pressures, making tough decisions to protect the most vulnerable in society.
As part of the Scottish Government 25/26 budget, Food Standards Scotland (FSS) was given a flat budget. FSS have notified the Scottish Government of a pressure due to increased staffing and delivery costs and the Scottish Government will work with FSS to manage the pressure. This has included the set-up of the FSS policy forum with relevant policy teams across Scottish Government to provide a co-ordinated response to the issues FSS face and facilitates the exchange of soft intelligence and problem solving.
Scottish Government have also committed to review the allocated budget in year.
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 May 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 19 May 2025
To ask the Scottish Government how many food crime cases were referred to the Procurator Fiscal by Food Standards Scotland in each financial year, from 2020-21 to date.
Answer
In 2020 3 cases were referred to the Procurator Fiscal by Food Standards Scotland and one in each year for 2021,2022, 2023 and 2024. In four of the cases the principal charge was reported as culpable and reckless conduct, a serious crime at common law in exposing others, and the public in general, to a significant risk to life or health. Two other cases reported were reported by FSS over the relevant period, but have not been included in the statistics as they relate to animal welfare offences which do not fall within the definition of food crime.
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 May 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Angela Constance on 16 May 2025
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to introduce a judicial register of interests by the end of the current parliamentary session.
Answer
Consideration of introducing a judicial register of interests began during this parliamentary session. However, following the introduction of a revised statement on judicial ethics last year, which included more detailed declaration requirements for judicial office holders and a greater emphasis on judicial independence, the commitment was delayed to allow time for its impact to be assessed. Now that a year has passed since the revised statement was introduced, work has recently commenced on evaluating its effects. An update will be provided to Parliament at the appropriate time.
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 May 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Angela Constance on 13 May 2025
To ask the Scottish Government how many registered sex offenders have changed their given name since 2023.
Answer
Following your topical question S6T-02471 on 22 April 2025 in relation to sex offender name change. I subsequently wrote to you about sex offender name change on 30 April 2025. In that response, I set out additional background, including that - as various names can be held in relation to the same individual: "instances of name change", is not necessarily the same as individuals who have changed their given name. I also highlighted to you that as the management of registration records of a Registered Sex Offender (RSO) is an operational matter for Police Scotland, they are therefore best placed to provide you with additional details on what their records do or do not show.
All answers to Topical Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at Official Report: search what was said in Parliament | Scottish Parliament Website
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 29 April 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Angela Constance on 6 May 2025
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-36190 by Angela Constance on 22 April 2025, when the peer review is expected to (a) commence and (b) conclude, and whether the final report will be published before the end of 2025.
Answer
The research paper is currently with peer reviewers and is expected to be concluded by early June. We are committed to publishing the report and will do so once the peer review process and any further action needed has concluded. I expect to be able to do that no later than the end of 2025.
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 April 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Angela Constance on 6 May 2025
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-36007 by Angela Constance on 3 March 2025, whether it will provide the information requested regarding what the reasons were for (a) the five-year delay in publishing an updated memorandum of understanding/agreement and (b) it missing the "end of 2024" commitment to do so, and for what reason it did not provide this information in its answer.
Answer
The Parole Board for Scotland and officials at Community Justice Division initiated the redrafting of the memorandum of understanding/agreement in summer 2022. Protracted discussions and negotiations on the nature and detail of the document; and resource intensive pressures on both parties meant that delivery of the document took longer than anticipated. Agreement on the document had neared finalisation by the end of 2024, however sign-off and clearance by interested parties allowed for publication of the MOA to proceed into early 2025.
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 April 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Angela Constance on 29 April 2025
To ask the Scottish Government on what dates the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs has met (a) Scottish Women’s Aid, (b) Victim Support Scotland, (c) Rape Crisis Scotland and (d) COSLA since 29 March 2023, and what subjects were discussed.
Answer
Scottish Women's Aid, Victim Support Scotland, Rape Crisis Scotland and COSLA are all members of the Victims Taskforce which has met 4 times since 29 March 2023. The dates and minutes of those meetings can be found at . They have also attended meetings of Victim/Survivor Advisory Board which have taken place on 26 July 2023, 20 March 2024 and 13 March 2025.
In addition I meet with key justice stakeholder organisations on a regular basis and as required. The dates of meetings with the 4 requested organisations, along with an overview of topics discussed are as follows:
Scottish Women’s Aid
05-03-2025 | Special Measures Scheduling of Court business Sexual Offences Court Non-harassment Orders Victim Notification Scheme Victims & Witnesses Commissioner |
Victim Support Scotland
30-01-2025 | Anonymity for child homicide victims Victims, Witnesses & Justice Reform Bill |
20-11-2024 | Correspondence from Criminal Justice Committee Victims, Witnesses & Justice Reform Bill Victims & Witnesses Commissioner Sexual Offences Court |
19-09-2024 | Victims, Witnesses & Justice Reform Bill Victim Notification Scheme Victims Code & Standards of Service Funding Victims Taskforce Prison Population |
13-08-2024 | Meeting with the Family of Michele Rutherford |
04-06-2024 | Emergency Release Victims, Witnesses & Justice Reform Bill Children (Care & Justice) Bill Victim Notification Scheme Anonymity for child homicide victims Michele Rutherford case |
16-05-2024 | Prison Population Early Release |
22-04-2024 | Visit to Remote Evidence Suite |
26-03-2024 | VSS National Conference Support for families Deaths abroad Remote Evidence Victims Taskforce Terrorism & Scottish Victims Victim Notification Scheme Anonymity Victims and Witnesses (Scotland) Act 2014 Children (Care & Justice) Bill |
16-11-2023 | Anonymity for child homicide victims Children (Care & Justice) Bill Victims Taskforce |
25-05-2023 | Bail & Release from Custody Bill Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform Bill |
14-04-2023 | Visit to VSS |
Rape Crisis Scotland
04-03-2025 | Victim Notification Scheme Sexual Offences Court Jury Research Non-Harassment Orders Independent legal representation Pilot of independent legal advice Special Measures Nurse Sexual Offence Examiner Test of Change project |
30-10-2024 | Single Judge Rape Trials pilot Jury Reform Independent legal representation Independent legal advice Sexual Offences Court Pre-recorded evidence Victim Notification Scheme Victims, Witnesses & Justice Reform Bill |
18-06-2024 | Independent legal advice Jury Direction Single Judge Rape Trials pilot |
COSLA
06-02-2025 | Prisoners (Early Release) (Scotland) Act 2025 Criminal Justice Social work Community Justice Services Housing Support for Prisoner Release |
14-11-2024 | Prisoners (Early Release) (Scotland) Act 2025 New National Voluntary Throughcare Service ‘Near Me’ HMP Stirling pilot Budget Caledonian Programme Restorative Justice Parole Board |
14-10-2024 | Speech at COSLA & Community Justice Scotland Event - Prison Population and Community Justice focus |
09-10-2024 | Prison Population Parliamentary Statement |
16-05-2024 | Prison Population |
23-11-2023 | National Care Service Justice Social Work Research Prison Population |
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 April 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Angela Constance on 29 April 2025
To ask the Scottish Government on what dates the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs has met prison governors since 29 March 2023 and what subjects were discussed, broken down by governor.
Answer
I have undertaken an extensive programme of visits to Scotland’s prisons where I have met with Governors and/or Deputy Governors and other members of prison staff. Details of these visits are shown in the following table.
Establishment | Date(s) of Visits | Agenda |
HMP Stirling | 25 May 2023 | Tour of facility and discussion ahead of formal opening |
HMP Polmont | 9 June 2023 | Tour of facility, discussion on managing the prison population and other key issues specific to establishment |
HMP Shotts | 23 June 2023 | HMP Shotts Visitor Centre Roadshow |
HMP Edinburgh | 27 June 2023 | Book launch of “The Good Prison Officer” and discussion on managing the prison population and other key issues specific to establishment |
HMP Grampian | 19 July 2023 | Tour of facility, discussion on managing the prison population and other key issues specific to establishment |
HMP Inverness | 20 July 2023 | Tour of facility, discussion on managing the prison population and other key issues specific to establishment |
HMP Perth | 20 July 2023 | Tour of facility, discussion on managing the prison population and other key issues specific to establishment |
HMP Dumfries | 2 August 2023 | Tour of facility, discussion on managing the prison population and other key issues specific to establishment |
HMP Kilmarnock | 2 August 2023 | Tour of facility, discussion on managing the prison population and other key issues specific to establishment |
HMP Greenock | 3 August 2023 | Tour of facility, discussion on managing the prison population and other key issues specific to establishment |
HMP Barlinnie | 25 August 2023 | Tour of facility, discussion on managing the prison population and other key issues specific to establishment |
HMP Glenochil | 13 September 2023 | Tour of facility, discussion on managing the prison population and other key issues specific to establishment |
HMP Edinburgh | 29 September 2023 | Participate in Recovery Walk and tour of facility, discussion on managing the prison population and other key issues specific to establishment |
HMP Shotts | 3 October 2023 | Tour of facility, discussion on managing the prison population and other key issues specific to establishment |
HMP Addiewell | 27 October 2023 | Tour of facility, discussion on managing the prison population and other key issues specific to establishment |
Lilias Centre | 1 December 2023 | Tour of facility and discussion on managing prison population and issues specific to establishment |
HMP Low Moss | 13 December 2023 | Tour of facility, discussion on managing the prison population and other key issues specific to establishment |
HMP Castle Huntly | 21 February 2024 | Tour of facility, discussion on managing the prison population and other key issues specific to establishment |
HMP Perth | 8 July 2024 | Visit to establishment and announcement around Consultation on Long Term Prisoners |
HMP Stirling | 15 August 2024 | Tour of facility, discussion on managing the prison population and other key issues specific to establishment |
HMP Highland site | 28 August 2024 | Tour of site and existing structure |
HMP Edinburgh | 18 December 2024 | Tour of facility, discussion on managing the prison population and other key issues specific to establishment |
HMP Barlinnie | 5 February 2025 | Announcement of signing of HMP Glasgow Stage 2 contract |
HMP Polmont | 20 March 2025 | Tour of facility, discussion on managing the prison population and other key issues specific to establishment |
HMP Low Moss | 24 March 2025 | Discussion with prison senior management team on managing prison population and other key issues specific to establishment |
I met with the Prison Governors Association on 19 September 2023 where we discussed a range of issues including prison population, case management, recruitment and terms and conditions for governors.
In addition Prison Governors will have been attendees at wider meetings in relation to Scotland’s prisons as appropriate.
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 April 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Angela Constance on 24 April 2025
To ask the Scottish Government on what dates the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs has met the (a) chief executive of the Scottish Prisons Service, (b) chief Social Work Advisor, (c) chief executive of the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service and (d) Lord President of the Court of Session since 29 March 2023, and what subjects were discussed.
Answer
I have met the Chief Executive of the Scottish Prisons Service, the Chief Social Work Advisor, Chief Executive of the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service and Lord President of the Court of Session on a number of occasions since 29 March 2023.
Information is set out in the following tables on meetings with each individual and a small number of ad hoc additional meetings.
Meetings with Chief Executive the Scottish Prison Service
Date of Meeting | Subjects discussed (Agenda) |
5 April, 2023 | - Introductions
- Transgender Prisoners and Policy Review
- Deaths in custody review
- Private sector contracts
- Capital and revenue budgets
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20 April, 2023 | - Update from SPS on key issues:
- HMP Addiewell inspection
- Transgender Prisoners and Policy Review
- Criminal Justice Committee Appearance - Children’s care and Justice Bill
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29 June, 2023 | - Update from SPS on key issues:
- HMP Perth – cell sizes/capacity issue
- HMP Addiewell inspection update
- Transgender Prisoners and Policy Review
- Reflections on Stirling opening and update on Community Custody Units
- Prison Population
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31 August, 2023 | - Prison population – SPS planning to date
- GEOAmey
- Transgender Prisoners and Policy Review
- Detain in Errors
- Addiewell healthcare
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26 October, 2023 | - Prison Population
- Transgender Review
- GEOAmey
- Operational Update
|
16 November, 2023 | - Prison Population
- Pay Offer – Next steps and engagement
- Transgender Prisoners and Policy Review
- Operational Update
|
7 December 2023 | |
21 December 2023 | - Prison Population
- Pay
- GEOAmey
- Operational Update
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17 January 2024 | - Prison Population
- Pay
- FAIs and Deaths in Prisons
- Operational Update
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22 February 2024 | - Operational Update
- Capital projects
- Deaths in prisons and FAIs
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6 March 2024 | - Prison population/optimisation of prison estate
- FAI Determination follow up
- Early release
- HMP Glasgow/Highland
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14 March 2024 | - Operational Update
- Capital projects
- Kilmarnock transition
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25 April, 2024 | - Operational Update
- Public Audit Committee session (2nd May)
- Capital projects
- Deaths in custody
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3 May 2024 | - Follow up from Public Audit Committee with Chief Executive and Director General Education and Justice
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10 June 2024 | - Pre meet prior to Criminal Justice Committee
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27 June, 2024 | - Prison Population
- HMIPS thematic review of prisoner progression
- Body searching in women’s estate
- Extradition
- Operational Update - HMP YOI Stirling noise
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15 August, 2024 | - Prison Population
- Moving children out of HMP Polmont
- National Preventive Mechanism & Scottish Human Rights Commission report on prisons
- Operational Update
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20 August 2024 | - Update from Cab Sec visit to SPS College at Polmont
- Status of recent FAIs
- Impact of the aging prison population
- Development of a ligature toolkit
- Complex conditions within prison population
|
27 August 2024 | |
12 September 2024 | |
18 September 2024 | - Prison population
- Children’s move from HMP Polmont to secure care
- HMP Kilmarnock
- Prison Estate – HMP Glasgow
|
7 November 2024 | - Prison population
- Staffing – HMP Greenock
- Pre-Budget Scrutiny evidence session
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12 December 2024 | - Prison population
- Emergency Prisoners (Early Release) Bill
- Budget 2025-26
- HMP Glasgow
- FAIs
- Ligature Point Review
- Foreign National Offenders - Extradition Requests
|
16 January 2025 | |
30 January 2025 | - Prison population
- Drone activity and impact
- FAI Determination
- HMP Glasgow / HMP Highland
|
6 March 2025 | - Prison population/optimisation of prison estate
- FAI Determination follow up
- Early release
- HMP Glasgow/Highland
|
Meetings with Chief Social Work Advisor
Date of Meeting | Subjects discussed (Agenda) |
27 April 2023 | - Office of the Chief Social Work Adviser’s responsibilities
- Issues facing the social work workforce
- Proposed National Social Work Agency (NSWA)
- Working across ministerial portfolios
|
8 June 2023 | - NSWA
- Social work education options,
- Social work leadership within the current integrated context.
- Supported year for newly qualified social workers
- Negative perception of social workers.
- Relationships with other social work stakeholders.
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26 June 2023 | - Update on the COSLA concession discussions
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24 August 2023 | - Update on research and stakeholder engagement
- Increased demand and expectations on justice social work services
- Funding for justice social work
- Recruitment and retention
- Workforce development and resource issues
- Interaction between JSW and NCS
- Strengthening justice social work
|
31 August 2023 | - Presentation on the NSWA
- Discussion on the NSWA
- Reporting to the NCS National Board.
- Pay discrepancies in social work
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9 November 2023 | - Background around current system on public protection
- How to work together across Scottish Government
- National roles and responsibilities
- How ministers can help support improvement
|
21 March 2024 | - National Social Work Agency
- Possible NCS Stage 2 Amendments to the NCS Bill
- Public protection
- Prison Social Work – update from recent meeting
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5 June 2024 | - Update on the NSWA/NCS Bill – potential stage 2 amendments
- Public Protection - National Public Protection Leadership group
- Update on Social Work Education and Scottish Social Services Council.
- Update on Trauma Responsive Social Work Service Programme
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18 June 2024 | - Discussion of proposed Stage 2 amendment to the National Care Service (Scotland).
- Agreed that the SG would put forward a stage 2 amendment for the CSWA role
|
6 November 2024 | - Establishment of the National Public Protection Leadership Group (NPPLG)
- Update on discussion at the NPPLG and on the Chief Officers’ Public Protection leadership event
- Intersectionality in public protection work
- Chronologies
- Online harm
- The relationship between the NPPLG and the Scottish government
|
13 November 2024 | - NSWA update
- Vision for social work with sector partners
- Social work education update
- Updates on Trauma Responsive Social Work Service Programme (TRSWS)
- Public Protection: update on the National Public Protection Leadership Group
|
29 January 2025 | - NSWA Update
- National Social Work Partnership
- The role of the National Chief Social Work Adviser in statute
- Social work education
- Trauma Responsive Social Work Service Programme (TRSWS) update
- Public Protection – the work of the NPPLG.
|
5 March 2025 | - NSWA/NCS Bill – potential stage 2 amendments
- Public Protection - National Public Protection Leadership group
- Update on Social Work Education and Scottish Social Services Council
- Update on Trauma Responsive Social Work Service Programme
|
6 March 2025 | - Data around children and young people accommodated in secure care.
- Capacity challenges in secure care.
|
Meetings with Chief Executive of Scottish Courts and Tribunal Service
Date of meeting | Subjects discussed (Agenda) |
24May 2023 | - Provision of court transcripts
- Court recovery programme / Audit Scotland report on backlogs
- Pilot of virtual summary domestic abuse trials
- Failure to appear
|
15 June 2023 | - New model of virtual trials for summary domestic abuse cases
- Sheriff Principal Pyle attended
|
13 September 2023 | - Court recovery / GEOAmey
- SCTS staff pay award
- Funding
- Legislation: Victims, Witnesses and Justice Reform Bill, and SSI extending temporary justice measures in Coronavirus (Recovery and Reform) (Scotland) Act 2022
|
14 November 2023 | - Court recovery programme
- Trauma Informed Domestic Abuse Model
- GEOAmey
- 2024-25 Budget
- Court Transcripts pilot
- Floating trials
|
29 May 2024 | - Court backlogs / Criminal court recovery
- Prison population
- Court transcripts pilot
- Pre-recorded evidence/Evidence by Commission suites
- Enabling jury service for jurors with communication needs
|
25 September 2024 | - Prison population
- Criminal court modelling
|
12 December 2024 | - 2025-26 Budget Planning
- Criminal Court Modelling
- Justice System Reform
|
27February 2025 | - 2025-26 Budget
- Public Sector Reform Bids
- Victims, Witnesses and Justice Reform Bill
- ICT system for the Office Public Guardian
- Summary Case Management
|
Meetings with Lord President, Court of session
Date of meeting | Subjects discussed (Agenda) |
26 April 2023 | - Victims, Witnesses and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill
- United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC)
- Legal Services Regulation
- Court Recovery
|
25 October 2023 | - Regulation of Legal Services Bill
- Victims, Witnesses and Justice Reform Bill
- Prison Population
- GEOAmey
- Court Recovery Programme
- Budget Position 2024-25
|
22 February 2024 | - Prison Population
- Airdrie Sheriff Court
- Victims, Witnesses and Justice Reform Bill
- Horizon Scanning: Human Rights Bill
- Court Transcripts Pilot Update
- Regulation of Legal Services (Scotland) Bill
|
18 September 2024 | - Prison Population
- Justice System Efficiencies
- Criminal Court modelling
- Budget Planning/Office of Public Guardian IT system
- Legislative Programme Update
- Preparedness for any anti-immigration riots in Scotland
- Consultation on media reporting on child homicide victims
|
4 December 2024 | - Signing of the SCTS Framework document
- 2025-26 Budget Planning
- Criminal Court Modelling
- Justice System Reform
- Victims & Witnesses Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill
- Transcripts Pilot
|
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 28 March 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Angela Constance on 24 April 2025
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish the (a) terms of reference, (b) instructions and (c) scope of the work given, as part of the commissioning process, to the person appointed to research and report on the dual role of the Lord Advocate.
Answer
The Scottish Government commissioned an expert report from Malcolm McMillan on the roles and functions of the Scottish Law Officers. The purpose of the report is to outline the history and development of the roles and functions of the Scottish Law Officers; describe their current roles and functions; highlight the role of Law Officers in a number of other jurisdictions; describe the constitutional context relevant to a review of the roles of the Scottish Law Officers; and provide a summary of insights and comments on the Scottish Law Officers’ roles from former and current holders of these offices and relevant officials. The work to publish the final report is in the final stages.
The remit and terms of reference will be included in the published report.
